Combined television camera and prompter



June 3, 1952 M. M. THIELEN COMBINED TELEVISION CAMERA AND PROMPTER 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 11, 1950 In \Itu RQD GR E EN ELgl'iclL F I6.

ILLUMINATING LAMP INVENTOR.

MARY M. THlEl-EN GREEN ATTORNEYS June 3, 1952 TH|E| EN 2,598,947

COMBINED TELEVISION CAMERA AND PROMPTER Filed Feb. 11, 1950 3Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2.

INVHVTOR.

MARY M.THIE.L..EN

Y W QQ ATTORNEYS June 3, 1952 M. M. THIELEN COMBINED TELEVISION CAMERAAND PROMPTER Filed Feb. 11, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

MARY M. THIELEN FIG. 3.

ATTORNEYS Patented June 3, 1952 COMBINED TELEVISION CAMERA AND PROMPTERMary M. Thielen, Scarsdale, N. Y.

Application February 11, 1950, Serial No. 143,693

13 Claims.

My invention relates to a novel method of and mechanism for controllingthe broadcast of a television program, and more specifically relates toa novel method of and apparatus for constantly presenting to actorstheir script and controlling the rate at which the program progresses.

At present, the technique for operating a television program generallycomprises utilizing a plurality of cameras which are focused on theactors for taking and broadcasting pictures of the cene; that is,televising the program.

A program director usually directs through telephonic communicationseach of the operators of the cameras and determines which of the camerasoutput shall at any moment be transmitted. This makes it necessary,however, to have each of the performers not only memorize his actions,but also all of his lines and his relative location with respect toother actors. This necessity for memorizing the script has been one ofthe primary factors in the well recognized costliness of a televisionprogram and indeed its apparent necessity has been one of the factorswhich retarded the introduction of television as a commercial project.

In the case of news commentators and many others who are notprofessional performers, it has been the practice heretofore to readtheir script, or at least notes on which their talk is based. Thisrequired them to shift their eyes from the script to the cameraperiodically. While this has been recognized as disconcerting and aserious disadvantage, no known solution has heretofore been available.

In many cases, precision accuracy of the spoken material is required asin the case of announcements of food and drug products regulated by thePure Food and Drug Act. In these cases, any ad lib remarks may result inbreaches of the law with serious consequences and. have therefore beenthe cause of anxiety both on the part of the broadcast station owner andalso the program producer.

My-invention is directed to a means of presenting to the actor or othertelevision performer a continuously visible script inwhich only theportions to be read at the particular moment are visible and'in whichthe successive presentation ing means for moving successive portions ofthe roll into view. The apparatus must, of course, be so arranged thatit may be readily mounted on the television camera and in such aposition that it is located as closely adjacent to the particular lensof the television camera which is in use as possible in order to givethe illusion of looking directly into the lens itself.

My invention also contemplates the control of the speed of operation ofthe continuous roll of the script thereon by a program director having asynchronized duplicate of the script in a box or other piece ofapparatus on his desk. The

of the portions of the script to be read are under I control of theprogram director or other individual responsible for timing anddirection. Essentially, my receiver contemplates placing the script on acontinuous roll and mounting this continuous roll on thetelevisionca'mera itself, or adjacent to it, and providing appropriatedrivduplicate script roll at the desk of the program director is movedin any suitable manner and may even be operated manually always inperfect synchronism.

The rate of movement of the roll at the program directors deskdetermines the rate of movement of the roll at the television camera.This is preferably accomplished by having the moving roll at the programdirector's desk drive a selsyn motor which is connected to anotherselsyn motor at the television camera; the latter selsyn motor in turndrives the script roll at the television camera. Thus, where as isfrequently the case, three cameras are to be used for a broadcast, eachof the three cameras will have a complete script roll and the apparatuson the program directors desk will also have a complete script roll. Asthe program director controls the rate of movement of the script roll athis desk all of the script rolls at the various television cameras willmove simultaneously. Thus, wherever the actor or other performer mayhappen to look, he will find a moving script roll giving him thematerial which he is to speak or act.

The script roll may in addition to carrying the material to be read alsocarry stage directions, the material to be read being printed in onecolor and the stage directions in a contrasting color.

Where the action of the program requires that the performer look at somepoint not occupied by a camera, the mounting of a similar receiving unitat a point toward which he is to look will positively control hismovement in accordance with the plan laid out by the program director,before the program begins. The material on the roll may be printed incharacters of appropriate size and may be appropriately illuminated, andif required, magnifiers may be used at the receiving units to insur fullvisibility of the material.

The script roll and receiver unit for operating up roll H8 01-therreceiving; unit 41.

I 3 it may be camouflaged as book-ends behind drapes, curtains, etc. sothat it will not be visible to the audience viewers.

The primary object of my invention, therefore, is the provision of anovel mechanism for constantly presenting to performers the materialwhich they are to speak and also presenting such stage directions as maybe required.

The foregoing and many other Qbiects of my inventionwill become apparentin the following description and drawings in which Figure 1 is a view inperspective of the program directors control box.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective showing my novel script controlreceiver mounted on one type of television camera.

Figure 3 is a view corresponding to that of Figure 2 showing the scriptcontrol receiving unit. mounted on another type of television camera.

Figure 4 is a schematic electrical diagram showing one manner in whichthe elements may be connected.

Referring first to Figure 1, the program director is provided with thecontrol box It having a supply rol-l spool I2 and a take-uprol-l spoolI3, a script roll I4, having appropriate printed material thereon andmounted on the supply roll and connected to the take-up roll.Appropriate means is provided to drive the take-up roll in theembodiment shown. A crankhandle I5 drives a flexible shaft II which isconnected by coupling I8. to shaft is heldinbrackets 20 and 2 -I onpanel 22 of the control box I0. Bevel gear- 2-5 on shaft I9 matches withbevel gear 26 on shaft 2-7. Shaft 2'! drives an appropriatesynchronizingdevice hereinaft'er described which is preferably a selsynmotor 30-.

Sprocket (H on shaft 2'! drives 7 sprocket 3 2 which is connected byshaft 33 to-thetake-up roll I3. Gonsequently as the program directorrotates handle I6, take-up roll I3 winds up the script It at a speeddetermined by the director. It willbe obvious that an appropriate motordrive maybe substituted for handle I 6, said motor driveeithercomprising a variable speed motor or having 'a' variable speedconnection to the shaft I! or- I'Q, The speed of the drive may then beunder c zontrol of the program director. At the television camera 40 fFigure 2, a receiving unit; A I' is supported in anysuitable manneronthe top wall: 42- of the casing of the television camera 40; The means52 may-simply be a pair of, nonskid'rubber legs-or may be a positivesecuring. means, such as a bolt-, screw, clip, or strap arrangen'ient.

A 'sel sy n motor 60; or any suitable synchronizabledrive unit ismountedbetween the plates 6 I; and Bi -carried by'the angle bars 55; andThe shaft 54" of the drive unit- 6 0 has a sprocket 65connectedby-chai-n I55- to sprocket 61011 the takev The take.- up roll68 is mountedbetween the parallel vertical bars I0 and II'which aresecured in any suitable manner as by the rod 12 passing throughregistering openings in the bars III and 5d and II and 5|; respectively,to the bars 50; and 5I. The rod'12 alsq'guides paper in a vertical,plane for viewing.

Thescript Ida is carrieddown under theguide roll and is rotatablymounted at the lower end of m and, II e up. betwee ars. 1.011. and LI.er h secur m nt haft. 12 w ich acts asv a s ide ,v and n o the ta cruproll 68. Consequently the script is moved upwardly just above.

lens, 4.6. whiQh hap enstobe the, lens tabe televising the program bythe apparatus herein described.

Since the motors 38 and 68 are so arranged that they are synchronouswith each other, the rate of movement of the take-up roll shaft 33 atthe control unit II} is duplicated exactly at the receiving unit "IIthrough take-up roll 68. Where appropriate illumination is required,then the lamp filament light bulbs 90. and 94 may be carried by the barsIll and II just above and below the visible portion of the script Ida.Similarly, a lamp filament bulb 92 may be mounted in the control box. Anappropriate mask indicated by the dotted lines at 95 may be mountedacross the front surface of the bars III and II so that the only portionof the script visible is that between the lines 95-95. This mask may bea portion of the casing where a casing or housing isv used in the unit,although the elimination of the casing makes the operation of the unit,especially the placement and removal of the rolls, a simple matter.

Where required also a magnifying lens 93' may be carried between thebars I0 and 'I' I in front of the script I'Aw and through in front of orin back of the mask as defined by dotted lines 95999..

In Figure 3, I have shown the mounting of my unit on another type ofcamera I' III, having a top wall I 42 and a lens turret I44 with lenses:45, I45, I41 and I I-8. This type of camera I4!) is one wherein theparticular lens televising the program is at the lower left in theposition occupied by lens I 16. In this case the unit 4.I is movedforward at the top wall- I42 so that the script material extendsslightly forward of the lens- I45M3 so that the turret I44 may berevolved. Thesame unit II is shownhere in use as in Figure 2 with theconnection between bars III and 59 and II and 51 being adjusted, for thedifferent type of lens arrangement. The control unit is provided-with aterminal block I01) and the receiving unitalso has a terminal blockIIlI. 7

One method of connecting the elements for simultaneous operation isshown in- Figure 4.- In Figure 4, I have shown schematically the selsynsystem which may be applied in carrying. out my. invention. The selsyntransmitter is shown at |5I- and comprisesthe usual three phase windingsI52, I53 and I54, connected respectively to the three phases I55, I56,I-5'1:a-t;the receiving selsyn I58. A winding I6'I' at the transmittingend and a winding IE2 at the receiving end: are, energized from a sourceof power I63 when, the, switch I54 is closed. 7

Asis well known in the art, when the windings I52: to I54 are rotatedrelative to winding VItfI', a, voltage is inducedtherein which will'produce a c rresp n g, g lar. mov ment, of. the. windings I55 to I51relative to winding I52. 'Ifhe source of power I63 is, connected to adouble, pole, double throw switch IjIjI on closing switch IN. Initially,the recorded material is inserted; on the transmitter and receiver drum.With ,the switch I64 closed, the switch IJ'I'I is .mov.e d.' t'ditsupperposition at which contact. Ij'IZis en aged: In this. Position.windings I53 and I513 atlthe transmitter and windings I55 and IE1. atthe re-. ceiver are short-circuited V and, the increased: torqueresulting therefrom ywill; ause. the. rotors. I6I and IBZ to find; theirzero ill-phase position. which. it .is electrically ockedso that:angular. rotationofi either, shaft is possible. only. by over,- comingthe. maximum torque possible. of. the.

selsyn. motors. This, arrangementfacilitates the operation of placingthe start of the script rolls on both transmitter and receiver units inexactly the same relative zero position. With the switch I'II in itsupper position, an obvious energizing circuit is completed for the redlamp I13, indicating that the apparatus is not in operation but has beenprepared for operation.

With the recorded material now in place and in proper phase alignment atboth the transmitter and receiver units, the switch I3I is thrown intoits lowermost position at which the by-pass circuit for the windingsI53, I54, I56 and I5! is opened and these windings are now in operationcondition. At the same time an obvious energizing circuit is completedfor lamp I74 indicating readiness for the regular operation of thetransmitter and receiver units.

Although in the above, I have illustrated the use of a selsyn forpending synchronous operations, it will be clear that I may use any wellknown means for achieving synchronous movement between the transmitterand receiver.

The transmitter program material will be marked along the margin withthe broadcast time when the corresponding adjacent portion should becompleted thus providing a control of the rate at which the program isbeing completed and which thus acts as a further guide to thebroadcaster.

By this means it will be seen that a simplified method is provided tocontro1 a television program continuously. By mounting receiving units4| at various points in the studio and particularly on each televisioncamera, the necessity for notes of any kind is dispensed with. Inaddition, the need for memorizing and rehearsing memorized scripts isobviated. In a news broadcast, no rehearsal at all will be necessarysince the script and the stage directions thereon may be read asrequired.

The spacing or phrasing of the announcer may also be controlled on thescript roll. In the case of a program such as a play requiring physicalmovement, only one or two rehearsals are required by my system in orderto establish the general type of movement and the mood of the program inthe minds of the actors. The lines to be spoken and the stage directionson the script roll will then completely control the action and preventmistakes which frequently occur in memorized performances. The cost ofthe entire production will thereby be greatly reduced.

As previously pointed out, where the action requires that the actor lookat some point away from the camera, the point at which he will look willbe fully controlled by the placement of the receiving unit at thatpoint. While my invention is directed primarily to televisionproductions and commercial announcements, it will be obvious that thesame method and apparatus is as readily adaptable to motion pictureproduction as well as stage productions. element is the inter-connectionor the synchronized arrangement between the control box and thereceiving units so that the entire production may be controlled.

In addition, a diagonal line 200 may be placed on each of the scriptrolls I4 and Ma or if desired, the diagonal line may be placed only onthe script roll I4 of Figure 1. This line may be The essential readagainst the time scale 202 at the control point then being read as wellas the time then being read and the end of. the script. Thus, in a 6 1program of, for instance, 7 15 minutes duration, the diagonal line 200will be ruled from the upper left-hand corner to the lower right-handcorner of the script strip. The mid-point of the program, that is, 7minutes of elapsed time, should occur therefore at the point where thediagonal line has reached the longitudinal center of the script strip.The apparent movement of the diagonal line 200 across the scale 202 willthen indicate appropriate timing to the actor, announcer or programdirector who may then control the movement of the script I4 at both thecontrol unit and the receiving units.

In the foregoing I have described my invention only with a preferredillustrative embodiment thereto. Since many variations and modificationsof my invention should now be obvious to those skilled in the art, Iprefer to be bound not by the specific disclosures herein contained butonly by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A television program control system comprising a transmitter controlbox, a plurality of television cameras, and a plurality of receivingunits; each receiving unit being mounted on a television camera; ascript roll in said control box; and a similar script roll in each ofsaid receiving units; apparatus for moving successive portions of thescript roll in the control box into view; and means at the control boxdriven at a speed proportional to the rate of movement of the scriptroll in the control box; a driving member at each receiving unit movingsuccessive portions of the script roll thereof into view adjacent anoperating lens thereof; said operating lens being mounted on each ofsaid television cameras; and a synchronizing connection between saiddriven means and each driving member to move the script roll at eachreceiving unit at a rate identical with that of the script roll in thecontrol box.

2. A television. program control system comprising a transmitter controlbox, a plurality of television cameras, and a plurality of receivingunits; each receiving unit being mounted on a television camera; ascript roll in said control box; and a similar script roll in each ofsaid receiving units; apparatus for moving successive portions of thescript roll in the control box into view; and means at the control boxdriven at a speed proportional to the rate of movement of the scriptroll in the control box; a driving member at each receiving unit movingsuccessive portions of the script roll thereof into view adjacent anoperating lens thereof; said opera-ting lens being mounted on each ofsaid television cameras; and a synchronizing connection between saiddriven means and each driving member to move the script roll at eachreceiving unit at a rate identical with that of the script roll in thecontrol box; each receiving unit comprising a horizontal basesupportable at the top of a television camera and projecting beyond thefront thereof; the driving member being carried by said base; a scripttake-up roll connected to said driving member and mounted on said base;a script supply roll connected to saidbase; and a front vertical frameextending downwardly in front of the camera and adjacent the lens inuse; said frame comprising guide means for said moving script in frontof the camera between the supply and takeup rolls.

3. A television. program control system com prising a transmitter.control-box,.a plurality of television cameras, and av plurality ofreceiving units; each receiving-unit being 'moiinted'on a televisioncamera} a script roll in said control box; and asim-ila'rjs'cn t roll ineach of said receiving units; apparatus formov'ing successive portionsof the Scriptroll in the contr l into View; and means at the control be:driven at a speed roportional to the rate of movement of the script rollin the control box; a driving mamher at each receiving 'unit moving sucessivetions of the script roll thereof into View adjacent an operatinglens thereof said operating lens being mounted on eachof said televisioncameras;- and a synchronizing connection between said driven means andeach driving memberto move the script roll at each receiving unit at arate identical with that of'the script r011 in the centre; box; eachreceiving onitcornmis'ing a nonzontai base supportable at the top of a.television camera and projecting beyond the front thereof; the drivingmember being Carried by said base; a script take-up roll connected tosaid driving member and mounted on said base; ascript st'ipply rollconnected to said base; and a front vertical frame extending downwardlyin front of the camera. and adjacentthe lens in use; said framecomprising guide means for said movingscript in front of the camerabetween the supply and take-up rolls, and a magnifier carried by saidfront vertical frame in front of said script;

4; A television program control system cozm prising a transmittercontrol box; a plurality of television cameras, and a plurality ofreceiving units; each receiving unit being mounted on atelevisioncamera; ascript roll in said control box; and asimilar script roll ineach of said receiving units; apparatus for moving successive portionsof the scriptroll in the control box into view; and means at the controlbox driven at a. speed proportional to the rate of movementof the scriptroll in the control box; a driving member at each receiving unit movingsuccessive portions of the script rol'l thereof into view adiaoentanoperating lens thereof} said operating lens being mounted on each ofsaid television" a script supply; roll connected to said base; and 4afront vertical frame extending downwardly in front of the cameraand'adjacentthe lensflin-use; said frame comprising guide meansfor saidn'fov ing script infrontof the camera between the" supply and take uprolls, and a mask carried by said front vertical' frame infront-ofsaidisc'ript; said mask having an opening defining the area ofthe moving scriptt'o' be read.

5; A television program control system co'nrprising a transmittercontrol box, a; plurality-[of television cameras,- and apl-ur'ality ofreceiving" units; each receiving unit'being'mounted on atelevisioncamer'a; a script roll in said control box; and a similarscript roll each of said receiving units; apparatus for movingsu'c'c'e'ssive portions of the script roll in the control box into view;and means at the control box driven at aspeedproportional to the rate ofmovement oi the script rolI"-i'r 1ith'e*contro1* boil a driving memberateach receiving unitinovmg successive" a tween said driven means. andeach dn portions of the sc'rip t rai thereof into' view asja cent an oerating lens; thereof; and operati g lens being mounted on each of saidtelevision cameras; and a synchronizing connection between said driven mans and each driving mem her to move the scri-i troli at each receivingamt at a rate identical with that of the Script ran in the control box;each receiving unit compris ng a horizontal base supportable at thetensor a television camera and projecting beyond the front thereof; thedriving memb-erbemg (iai'ii''d by said base; a script take- 111?! r011connected to said driving memberand m-otinted on said base; a scriptsuppiy ren connected to said b'is; and a front vertical frame extendingdownwar ly in fiont of the camera and adjacent the'l ns in use; saidframecomprising guide meansfor said movmg script in front of the camerbetween the supply and take-lip r'ons'; said front vertical name beingconnected to said noriz'ontai base" fol Vertical aidjus'tn'l'ent withrespect thereto.

6. A' television program control system comprising a. transInitteicontrol BOX, a plurality of television cameras, and a time ty' ofreceiving uni-ts; each receiving unit being riiounted on a televisioncamera; a script roll said control box; and a similar script roll ineachof said receiving units; apparatus for moving successive portions ofthe script roll inthe; control to into View; and means at the control565; driven at a speed proportional to tli rate of movement of thescript rail in the control box; a driving m'ernher at each receivingulfit ifioving" successive portions Of the" script 1 611 tfi of Reviewadjacent an operating lns" th'leoff said operating lens b'ifig' mounted(iii eac'li- (if Solid telvisidn cameras; and a; synchronizing"connection beber to move the script roll at each f'ei unit at a. rateidentical with that of these the control box; each receiving'conorizontal' base" supportable at the tf) of a; television camera andprojectingtetorid the from; thereof; thed'riving mem er beingcarneabvs'am base; a script take-up rol'l' coiniectd to'said d V'-' mg"member and mounted casein base; a script supply'rol-l connectedtois'aidbase? and a front vertical frame'extend 'g downwardly in front of thecamera and adjacent the lens said frame comprising guide m'ea tor saidmoving script infromof the came between the supply and take-pprolls;said frontvertiear time being connected to said} horizontal baiseror'vertieai and horizontal adiustmerit-with-resbeqttneretci v 7'; A*television rogram control system having atelevision car'nera for thebroadcast of a scene;

saidtel evisiofi camera comprising a receiver hav ing material th reonfor the broadcast, means If 0W1"- mounting said ifiilh'diitli" al'dja'c'ent a c mera lens andm theliiiedf vision of the-actor in the-scenebein'g'talien, cam lensbeing' mounted on the tremor aid televisioncamera; and remotely disposed ror'eofitrouing the Operation Of Saidreceive?fbfdbfitifilldulg cliajllg ing'the'material thereoni formounting said receiversd that its screen is in tlie'j'lineof vi'sionofthe actor in the scene be. ing: taken but ma er; rro'mtfieview oftlieaudi enca-andrniotelvuisposed foreofitr'oningi v the o erationof' saidecoveries contiiiiious'l'v changing'the natenai thereon;

9. A television program control system having a television camera forthe broadcast of a scene; said television camera comprising a receiverhaving material thereon for the broadcast, means for mounting saidreceiver immediately adjacent a camera lens and in the line of vision ofthe actor in the scene being taken, said camera lens being mounted onthe'front of said television camera; and remotely disposed means forcontrolling the operation of said receiver for continuously changing thematerial thereon, said last means being a selsyn motor and a memberhaving the identical material for broadcast as on said receiver and saidreceiver including a selsyn motor connected to and controlled by saidtransmitter selsyn.

10. A television ,program control system having a television camera forthe broadcast of a scene;

said television camera comprising a receiver having material thereon forthe broadcast, means for mounting said receiver immediately adjacent acamera lens and in the line of vision of the actor in the scene beingtaken, said camera lens being mounted on the front of said televisioncamera; and remotely disposed means for controlling the operation ofsaid receiver for continuously changing the material thereon, said lastmeans being a selsyn motor and a member having the identical materialfor broadcast as on said receiver and said receiver including a selsynmotor connected to and controlled by said transmitter selsyn, and anindicator on said transmitter for identifying the material with the timeof broadcast thereof.

11. A television program control system having a television camera forthe broadcast of a scene; said television camera comprising a receiverhaving material thereon for the broadcast, means for mounting saidreceiver immediately adjacent a camera lens and in the line of vision ofthe actor in the scene being taken, said camera lens being mounted onthe front of said television camera; remotely disposed means forcontrolling the operation of said receiver for continuously changing thematerial thereon, said last means being a selsyn motor and a memberhaving the identical material for broadcast as on said receiver and saidreceiver including a selsyn motor connected to and controlled by saidtransmitter selsyn, an indicator on said transmitter for identifying thematerial with the time of broadcast thereof, and an indicator at saidtransmitter for indicating when said selsyn motors are energized andoperating.

12. A television program control system having a television camera forthe broadcast of a scene; said television camera comprising a receiverhaving material thereon for the broadcast, means for mounting saidreceiver immediately adjacent a camera lens and in the line of vision ofthe actor in the scene being taken, said camera lens being mounted onthe front of said television camera; remotely disposed means forcontrolling the operation of said receiver for continuously changing thematerial thereon, said last means being a selsyn motor and a memberhaving the identical material for broadcast as on said receiver and saidreceiver including a selsyn motor connected to and controlled by saidtransmitter selsyn, an indicator on said transmitter for identifying thematerial with the time of broadcast thereof, and indicators forindicating a second receiver when said selsyns are operating.

13. A television program control system having a television camera forthe broadcast of a scene; said television camera comprising a receiverhaving material there-on for the broadcast, means for mounting saidreceiver immediately adjacent a camera lens and in the line of vision ofthe actor in the scene being taken, said camera lens being mounted onthe front of said television camera, so that the vertical a es of saidtelevision camera lens and said receiver are coincident, remotelydisposed means for controlling the operation of said receiver forcontinuously changing the material thereon, said last means being aselsyn motor and a member having the identical material for broadcast ason said receiver and said receiver including a selsyn motor connected toand controlled by said transmitter selsyn, an indicator on saidtransmitter for identifying the material with the time of broadcastthereof, an indicator at said transmitter for indicating when saidselsyn motors are energized and operating, and indicators for indicatinga second receiver when said selsyns are operating.

MARY M. TI-IIE'LEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record. in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,066,090 Edmunds July 1, 19131,135,040 Missbach Apr. 13, 1915 1,381,711 Kriepel June 14, 19212,467,051 Refiner Apr. 12, 1949 2,477,673 Weisman Aug. 2, 1949

